Bhagat Ravidas born around 1500 at Madavga on of Benaras. He lived up to 95. He proudly but unhesitatingly claimed his caste and occupation of tanner and cobbler.
He stoutly challenged the so-called high caste Brahmins and other Hindus that meditation was not the sole monopoly of their’s. That is why; Ravidas became the shining star for the emancipation of Dalits and low caste Indians.
He practiced spiritualism and preached uplift of humanity. Humility, piety, forgiveness and nonviolence were the attributes of his life. Truth and truthfulness were the main exponents in his Bani.
Dalits and Low castes had no place in Indian society. According to Rigveda, Brahmins were the mouth of God, Kushatryas the arms, Vaish the abdomen and the Sudaras the feet, meaning the scavengers of the higher strata’s of society.
Sudras had no religious, political or economic rights, if a Sudra did attempt to recite Veda, his tongue was cut. If, tried to hear Vedas, his ears were plugged with melted iron. And, if higher caste Hindu wished to spit, a Sudra was required to make his mouth wide open to receive the spit.
Ravidas revolted against such injustices to secure an honorable place for lower ones. His teachings spread from East to West. (From Benaras to Bikaner).
His Bhagti movement influenced Jhala Bai, Rani of Chittaur, who was the mother-in-law of Miran Bai. She came to Ravidas. This created a stir among high caste Hindus. So they became enemy to Ravidas like kabir. This confrontation, however, brought Ravidas and kabir closer to each other for a joint action plan against the opponents.
Miran Bai, the beautiful, after the death of her husband became Bairagan at the age of 28. Her brotherinlaw Rana Rattan Singh wanted to court her. But, Miran abandoned the house in revolt and wenton pilgrimage. She met Ravidas at Benaras and this was the greatest tiumph of Ravidas influencing the high caste as his disciples what to talk of low ones.
While editing the Adi Granth 1604, Guru Arjan Dev accepted the Bani of Ravidas to be included in Holy Book, His Bani is in 16 Ragas. A sloka and 61 Padas are in all, signifying his caste, work, occupation, Spiritualism and path towards the emancipation of all humanity, irrespective of high or low.
by:Tarlok Singh Sandhu Fremont, CA
Article extracted from this publication >> February 12, 1993
